The morality play Everyman is generally considered to be a translation of the fifteenth century Dutch morality play, Elckerlijc, written by Peter van Diest, and first printed in 1495. In the English version of the drama, after a discussion with Satan about the cause of human sin, God sends Death to a person named Everyman, in order to explain that sinning is acting against God's wishes. Everyman attempts to bribe Death into giving him more time. Death, of course, is not tempted by this bribe, but concedes that Everyman may find a companion for the journey—someone to speak of Everyman's good attributes.
At this point, a man named Fellowship happens along and states he will do anything to help the sad Everyman. Upon hearing Everyman's request, however, Fellowship refuses, offering to play instead. All of Everyman's friends, Kindred, Cousin, Goods, and Knowledge, refuse as well. Good-Deeds is too weak as Everyman loved her too little, so Everyman goes to see Confession—which gives Everyman penance and, further, gives Good-Deeds strength. She then agrees to go with Everyman.
Good-Deeds and Knowledge tell Everyman he must also call forward Discretion, Strength, Five-Wits and Beauty. They all agree to go with him after he goes to a priest to take sacrament. Again, when Everyman tells them where his journey ends, all but Good-Deeds forsake him. A messenger then comes and tells the audience that without good deeds, every man would be punished eternally, making the moral of the story quite plain.[3]
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The morality play Everyman is generally considered to be a translation of the fifteenth century Dutch morality play, Elckerlijc, written by Peter van Diest, and first printed in 1495. In the English version of the drama, after a discussion with Satan about the cause of human sin, God sends Death to a person named Everyman, in order to explain that sinning is acting against God's wishes. Everyman attempts to bribe Death into giving him more time. Death, of course, is not tempted by this bribe, but concedes that Everyman may find a companion for the journey—someone to speak of Everyman's good attributes.
At this point, a man named Fellowship happens along and states he will do anything to help the sad Everyman. Upon hearing Everyman's request, however, Fellowship refuses, offering to play instead. All of Everyman's friends, Kindred, Cousin, Goods, and Knowledge, refuse as well. Good-Deeds is too weak as Everyman loved her too little, so Everyman goes to see Confession—which gives Everyman penance and, further, gives Good-Deeds strength. She then agrees to go with Everyman.
Good-Deeds and Knowledge tell Everyman he must also call forward Discretion, Strength, Five-Wits and Beauty. They all agree to go with him after he goes to a priest to take sacrament. Again, when Everyman tells them where his journey ends, all but Good-Deeds forsake him. A messenger then comes and tells the audience that without good deeds, every man would be punished eternally, making the moral of the story quite plain.[3]
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